16th February 2011
“Settlement of disputes before Islamic arbitration tribunals, are already recognised by UK courts. Despite the apparent legal safeguards, this is a slippery slope to an unjust and unequal society in which religious zealots are winning the day.”
Gurmukh Singh
February 16th, 2011 at 2:10
This is a very dangerous path to take. I cannot understand how a country like the UK, which recognises the rights of women and other minorities, can possibly accept the legal system of a blatantly intolerant culture and allow it to become an accepted form of law within the UK. Why aren’t we saying ‘you’ve chosen to come here and live our way of life. We don’t accept discrimination of women….or whatever. Those laws are not acceptable here”. Are we so wishy-washy that we now have to bow to such radical fundamentalism?
February 16th, 2011 at 12:14
I’m guessing that the courts are just legitimising an arbitrated agreement, regardless of the method of arbitration. Of itself it’s not that much of an issue unless one party is being coerced into using that route and abiding by its decision. I think it is a cause for concern and bears watching but it’s not sharia by the back door…yet.
February 16th, 2011 at 14:52
There should only be one set of laws within a country. Ones in which EVERYONE should have to live by, regardless of religion, vocation, status, etc. Those laws should be made by your elected officials and enforced by the judicial system, not some crackpot from a religion. Anyone caught attempting to force religious laws onto another should then be held accountable by the legitimate laws of the land.
February 16th, 2011 at 15:21
The British ( Mother of Parliaments and all that crap) are fond of looking across the channel at France and others who strive for a secular state with some sort of superior attitude – which goes to show just how stupid and spineless we are. It is true you get the goverment and hence the laws you deserve.
February 16th, 2011 at 17:00
Remember that UK law allows arbitration agreements to be made legally binding. It’s a legitimate way of avoiding taking a dispute through expensive litigation if it can be avoided. The route to arbitration, be it via a solicitor, familly court, industrial body or islamic centre is irrelevant. At the end of the day if two Muslims cannot reach agreement on their own terms they still have the option of going to court at which time the secular laws will apply regardless.
February 16th, 2011 at 23:58
AtheistMC – I take on board your point re arbitration – but would comment that where that arbitration has a startpoint that ignores natural justice eg Muslim attitude to the rights of women ( 50% of the Worlds population) I ask will it ever produce anything other than their own terms?